Month: September 2021

Adopting a long-range approach, Caspar Fownes has set conservative pass marks for stable stars Sky Darci (NZ) (Darci Brahma) and Southern Legend (Not A Single Doubt) in the Gr.3 Celebration Cup Handicap (1400m) at Sha Tin on Sunday (26 September). The champion trainer hopes both his charges can figure – and perhaps even win – but Sunday’s assignment is far more of a starting point than a campaign objective. Nine-year-old Southern Legend returns for sixth campaign, seeking a 10th win at his 44th start – and a maiden first-up triumph in…

Belardo Boy broke through for his maiden win at Wanganui on Thursday when fresh-up in the Take It Easy Tours 1200. He had three unplaced runs as a juvenile before returning a stronger horse as a three-year-old, showcased by his two trial wins prior to Thursday’s triumph. “He has strengthened up a lot this time in,” trainer Lisa Latta said. “He went shin sore a couple of times last time in, he has just taken a little while to develop. He is a very fast horse.” Latta believes there is…

Kiwi import Mr Brightside brought up his fifth consecutive win when successful over 1630m at Flemington on Wednesday.  The four-year-old gelding was initially trained in New Zealand by Ralph Manning for whom he ran fifth in his sole New Zealand start before heading to Australia and joining Ben and JD Hayes’ Lindsay Park Racing operation. He has since had six starts from his new quarters, with his only defeat when finishing second at Bendigo at his first Australian run. Ridden by Craig Williams, Mr Brightside was prominent throughout and scored…

A pair of Stephen Autridge and Kris Shailer-trained three-year-old fillies will this weekend aim to enhance their chances of making the trip south for November’s Gr.1 Barneswood Farm 1000 Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton. Autridge and Shailer will produce Contributer filly Aris Aris in the Kilgravin Lodge 1300 at Matamata on Saturday and Tavistock filly Glory Bound in the Gartshore Construction 1200 at Tauranga a day later. “They are a couple of fillies we like that are coming up all right. Track conditions might interfere a little bit we’re looking forward…

Quality stayer The Chosen One takes the next step in his build-up towards the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups, when he tackles the Gr.1 Underwood Stakes (1800m) at Sandown on Saturday. The Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman-trained entire is one of just five runners in the A$1 million feature, with the presence of emerging star Zaaki ($1.30 favourite) too daunting for many. While not expecting to upset the applecart, Baker, who cannot be in Melbourne due to COVID-19 restrictions, is keen to have a go in a race that has been…

Sea Shepherd (NZ) (Zacinto) might have drawn comparisons with legendary motorcyclist Burt Munro from his training gallops leading into his debut win but Invercargill trainer Sabin Kirkland has upped the ante further leading into his second start at Gore on Friday. Kirkland said that leading into his debut win at Ashburton the only thing that could have gone faster along Oreti Beach than his training gallops was Munro on his famous Indian motorbike. And as the Zacinto three-year-old gelding prepares for Friday’s Hokonui Suzuki Handicap (1335m), Kirkland reported he hadn’t…